Improvement in bee-hives



UNrrED fS'rArEs Atrios ir. snoei/inne AND BENJAMIN E. wrrMEE, orMrLLEssvrLLE, PA..

PATENT Errea.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEHIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,642, dated March11, 1873.

l.To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALMUs M. BRUBAKER and BENJAMIN R. WITMEE, ofMillersville, in

the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Bee-Boxes, of which the following is a specication:

Our invention relates to the combination, with the box and valvedperforations, of a separate swarming-cage or decoy-box, provided with aglass tube and a glass cover, suspended/to the bee-box, so that theglass tube matches the perforation in the box or hive, and through whichthe bees pass singly (open to inspection) into the cage. Thus theegressof the queen-bee vwill be seen, and her presence secured to the broodbefore transferring them (when inclined to swarm) into a new box orother portion of the same, thereby securing their reconciliation to thechange.

The accompanying drawing shows the general plan and our improvement.Figure l shows in perspective two doors open,and the side with theperforations; Fig. 2, the swarming-cage detached; and Fig. 3,2. sectionof the bee box and cage, partition, and valve.

The box in itself is an ordinary box, with a square top, T, and bottomD, a false bottom, A, with wire netting, to allow the dbris to fallthrough. This bottom is extended into a stage or platform, G, in thefront, leaving the spaceabeneath it open at both ends, (when the outerdoor D is` opened,) and is easily kept clean, and su-pplies ampleventilation by being open in front under the stage C. P shows a centralpartition, having an open space along its entire length below,communieating between the frames G on each side.v

There is a valve, R, to close this uopening by means of a turn-button,o, on the outside of the box. L L show two ledges, on which the ordinaryframes are suspended on each side of the partition P. These frames arevisible through glass-framed doors E. There are also external doors D F.The space above the partition and frames contains the honeybox M, whichhas the ordinary glass front and a slatted bottom. We suspend this byside ledges fitting into grooved ways m made in the top of the verticalsides. To shut off communication between the frames G and box M,

we use the -ordinary flat valve N to slide inV and cover the spacebetween them. The box M is also protected by an outer door, D. The

door F has a slot for the passage of the bees in and out over the stageG, with a sliding door to close the slot for shutting the bees in orout, as usual. lA similar slot is in the glass door, leading to theinterior of the box. In Fig. l we show. three perforations through thebox H H H, each with a valve, V, also` eyed staples Ifor the hooks onthe swarmingcage W-', so affixed that when the latter is suspended tothe outside of the bee-box the glass tube Q opening into the cager may tover either of the openings H elected, or that department from which thebees inclined to swarm are to be drawn. This swarming-cage W, with itsglass tube Q and sliding glass top t, duly adjusted, gives the greatestfacility to inspect the number and condition of the bees in theirpassage in single iile through the tube into the cage, and to observethe allimportant passa-ge of the queen-bee, to secure the necessaryconditions to establish a new colony.

We have used various patented boxes, but always felt a defect in time ofswarmingor iu transferring bees, which led us to experimenting in orderto overcome this objection, and` resulted in the arrangement specified.

The bees with their queen can be easily secured for transportation inthe cage, or readily transferred into a new box, or otherwise disposedof. We nd this arrangement of the partition F, valve R, which enables usto` shut out the bees from the one side of the frames, as by means ofthe ilat valve N from the upper box, and apply our cage to either of thethree departments, to withdraw the bees.

Ve are not aware that this arrangement was ever before known or used,but we are fully persuaded of its efficiency and usefulness, and deem'it a highly desirable improvement.

We do not claim the box or frames, doors, Sto., as such are variouslyemployed.

W'hat we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A detachable swarming-cage W, when the same is provided with a glasstube, Q, and sliding-glass top t, so as to be applied to a bee box orhive, adapted to communicate at two or more points with said cage W andtube Q, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

ALMUS M. BRUBAKER. BENJAMIN R. WITMER.

Witnesses:

WM. B. WILEY, JACOB STAUEEER.

